Cattle-guard.



J.L.LANKP0RD. GATTLB GUARD.

APPLIGATION FILED 11017.18, 1911.

LLLNKFORD.

CATTLE GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.18, 1911.

1,041,493. Patented 001115,1912.

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CATTLE-GUARD.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedct. 15, 1912.

Application led November 18, 1911. Serial No. 661,036.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. LANnFonD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Essex, in the county of Stoddard and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cattle-Guards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to cattle guards and has for its object to provide an improved cattle guard adapted to be employed on a railroad track adjacent to an opening in a fence through which the track extends and serving to prevent cattle passing from one field into another through said opening, and also to display a` signal to an approaching train.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction vand combinations of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and: Figure 1 is a plan view of a cattle guard constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof on the line X-X, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line Y-Y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of a railroad track showing the cattle guard in its normal position. Fig. 5 is a side view of a railroad track showing the cattle guard in position when an animal is stepping upon the same.

In carrying out the invention a platform is provided of sheet metal or other suitable material and formed with the central portion 1 and the outside portions 2, the central portion 1 being located between the tracks 3 and the outside portions 2 outside of said tracks, the central portion 1 and the outside portions 2 being connected together by metallic U-shaped strips 4 depending therefrom, suitably secured thereto and serving as stops to limit the downward movement of the platform by abutting against the stringers 5. The platform is mounted on the stringers 5 so as to have a diagonally tilting movement thereon by means of crank shafts 6 and 6 rotatably mounted in sleeves 7 on the underside of the central portion l of the platform adjacent to each end thereof, the crank shaft 6 having its horizontal portions 8 rotatably mounted in the stringere 5 and having at each end a depending arm 9. The ends of the crank shafts 6 are pivotally mounted in sleeves 62 on one of the ties of the railroad track. The depending arms 9 are connected by rods 10 with the ends of a rotary shaft 11 mounted in bearing blocks 12 located on the stringers 5 and mounted on said rotary shaft is a suitable gate or barrier, as here shown, preferably constructed with a number of projections 13 formed of extended loops of wire. At each end of the rotary shaft 11 is a rod 14 having at its outer end a suitable signal 15 which may be a colored plate to serve as a visual signal in the day time or a lantern to serve as a night signal.

It will be seen from the foregoing construction that in the normal position of the platform the crank shafts will be located in an inclined position with the barrier lying beneath the plane extending through the top of the rails, as shown in F ig. 1 and that when the live stock pass on to the platform and depress it the platform will be tilted downward and forward in a diagonal direction thereby elevating the barrier so as to close the opening in a fence, the ends of said fence being indicated by the posts 16 and a portion of the fence at 17 .v In order to return the platform to its normal position and also the barrier, each of the rods 14 is provided with a counter-weight 18 which may be adjusted thereon by a set screw 19. By this means the platform and barrier will be automatically returned to normal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. By means of this invention a reliable and eflicient cattle guard is provided which will not only prevent cattle from passing from one pasture to another but also will display a signal to the approaching train.

What I claim is In a cattle guard, a rotatable shaft, U-

In testimony whereof I hereunto'aiiix my signature in presence of two Wltnesses.

JOHN L. Liiinironi).Vv

shaped bars extending over said shaft and each having the ends of the arms of the U secured to said shaft, the outer-most bars having arms that diverge toward the bight of the U, and signals extending between the Witnesses: arms of and fitting the bights of the U- J. A. HUX, shaped bars at the ends of the barrier. J. J. SUIJER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

